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. UNITED STATES EDWARD C. OHAPPATTE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR n PATENT OFFICE.

TO THE KEYSTONE WATCH OASE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

WATCH-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 373,723, dated November 22, 1887.

-Application filed December 17, 1886. Serial No. 221,827. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern/.-

Beit known that I, EDWARD C. CEAPPATTE,

. of the city and county of Philadelphia, and

State'of Pennsylvania, have invented an Irnprovement in Watch-Cases, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to watch-cases; and it consists in certain improvements, fully set forth in the following specification, and shown in the accompanying drawings,which form part thereof.

The object of my invent-ion is to provide a cheap and durable construction of what are known as dust-proof cases. To make the case cheap, as much as possible of the silver or gold found in ordinary dust-proof cases is removed and'a cheap base-metal band used as a substitute.

Before describing my invention in detail I desire to state that I am well aware that what are known in the trade as dust-bands77 and movement-rings have been used in watches, and such rings have been made of brass. Such constructions, however, are not designed for the object of my invention, nor do they attain the object. In all cases they have used just as much gold or silver and made the cases ofjust as thick metal as used before the dust-band or movementring was introduced, and, as a rule, no change was made in the case-center. In some special constructions the shape of the case-center has been somewhat modified, but not with a view of a reduction of gold or silver. An instance of this might be given in Patent No. 309,158, of 1884, in which the gold or silver is increased over what it would have been without the movement-ring. The addition of the ring necessitates a large case to be used unless constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention,which removes much of the expensive metal and substitutes a cheap metal, which strengthens the weakened case and at the same time acts as a movementring. In my invention I avoid enlarging the case for the introduction of the movement-ring, and by properly constructing such. ring I am enabled to greatly reduce the mass of valuable metal in the case, two features not found or combined in any other construction to my knowledge.

In carrying out my invention I provide t-he center with a heavy brass band, which rests upon the face edge of the center and forms the rear support for the works, and has on it the shoulder for the cap when the latter is used. The rear outer surface of this band or ring of brass forms a continuation of the rear flange of the watch-center. The back is snapped or screwed on in the ordinary way, as also is the cap, if used. The glass is held in a bezel or ring, which is screwed into the front of the brass band and performs the double function of holding the works in place in the band and also holding the band tirmly in place in the center.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a watch-case embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the brass or base-metal band removed from the case.

A is the watch-center, and is provided with the back flange, D, which is only about onehalf as wide as was heretofore used.

B is the back,which is shown as snapped on the center at C. The diameter of the opening in the center at the front or between the edges a is less than the diameter ot' the opening in the iange D. The band E is made of brass or other cheap metal, and is made to tit the opening within the flange D and rest upon the edge a at the face of the center. Its inner front end is provided with a female screw-thread, e,into which is screwed a male thread, g, on the glass supporting and clamping ring G, which has a flange, g', preferably milled.

H is the glass, and is carried by the ring G. When the ring G is screwed down,tl1e band E is drawn up, biting the edge a of the center between the said flange g of the ring G and the upper edge of the band E. This holds the band andthe works which :it contains firmly in place. The ring G may be made of silver or gold, or may be made of base metal plated or a composition of base and line metal. '.Ihe band E is madeheavy, and has the flange I for the works and shoulder t' for the cap, `usually formed in other cases of silver or gold on a continuation of flange D. This gives strength and reduces the amount of gold or silver in the case. Again, by making the band E of heavy brass the thickness of the gold or silver in the center may be considerably reduced, as the necessary strength is insured by the band. This band is provided with the fiange or offset F, on which the Works rest and upon which they are held by the lower edge of the ring G. Vhile the Works would be held in the band by the ring G, yet it is advisable to also use the clamping-screws found in all Works to clamp over the liange I, the ring G being relied upon mainly to hold the band E and its contents rmly in the center.

J is a notched part in the band to allow the passage of the Winding and setting devices. In case a stenrsetting device is used the band Will only need to have the ordinary circular opening.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A watehcase center having openings on opposite sides of different diameters, in combination With are-enforcingband fitting Within the center through the larger opening, resting against the inner face of the center lil-ange which forms the smaller opening, and formed 25 with flanges for receiving and supporting the Works, and a glass bezel or clamping ring having an outward ange, which ring extends through the smaller opening in the center and screws into said band and holds it in the cen- 3o ter by clamping the part ofthe center having the smaller opening between said band and ringflange, substantially as shown and specified.

2. The combination ofthe centerA` the band 35 E, supporting the Works and resting against the front edge, d, of the center, the glass bezel or clamping ring G,having a ange,g,screwed into said band and clamping it to said edge d ofthe center, and the glass H, carried by the 4o said ring, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony of which invention Ifhereunto set my hand.

EDWARD C. CHAPPATTE.

Witnesses:

GEO. W. RoBER'rs, JOHN C. GALLEN. 

